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Is 29k a year really poverty?

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  • 26-11-2012 11:41PM
    #1
    Tiddlypeeps
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,103 ✭✭✭Tiddlypeeps


    A lady on RTE a few minutes ago was talking about how hard done by she feels because she got a mortgage a few years ago when she was expecting a pay rise. The recession hit so she never got the pay rise she was expecting. She now has to work in a bar at the weekend to survive.

    Seems like a common story. A tad nieve to get a mortgage based on a possible future raise but I think lots of people are in a similar situation so I'm not judging.

    What baffles me is how she is living such a life of poverty. She disclosed that she has a public sector job earning 29k a year (450 per week after tax) and her mortgage is 650 per month. That's just for her day job, not including the bar work. WTF!

    Pretty sure she was single because of the of the level of tax she was paying, or at the very least if a partner exists he is not unemployed. She never mentioned kids. Could be wrong on both counts, either way it doesn't make the numbers less crazy.

    She kept harping on about how it was her mortgage that was crippling her so it didn't seem like she had any other huge debts hanging over her that could explain why she felt so financially crippled.

    The documentary show was playing up to it aswel, they were using her as an example of how bad it's gotten.

    I can't actually make any sense of that. I don't think 29k a year is a lavish wage or makes her in anyway wealthy but I would never have considered that to be in second job territory. Have I just totally lost touch with reality or is this as insane as I think it is?


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    #2
    LivelineDipso
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 510 ✭✭✭LivelineDipso


    She disclosed that she has a public sector job

    as opposed to a ex-private sector job...




    Considering how lucky they are, Public Sector Workers in this country make me want to vomit sometimes.


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    #3
    RMD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,662 ✭✭✭RMD


    There's clearly more to this story than meets the eye, either she's living beyond her means or not mentioning other debts (car loan, healthcare etc). If she's earning 450 a week after tax and only paying 650 in mortgage that means she still has roughly 290 quid a week in disposable income. It's not lavish by any measure but it's not even close to 2nd job territory just to make ends meet.


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    #4
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 24,764 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    well it's poverty in the sense that she probably includes sky, broadband, going out two nights a week and makeup as essential expenditure.
    ie not at all


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    #5
    smcgiff
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,943 ✭✭✭smcgiff


    It's also scary how many people think if they move up onto the higher tax bracket they can come out with less money overall. I think she was suggesting as such and she wouldn't be alone.


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    #6
    bootybouncer
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 495 ✭✭bootybouncer


    Sitting on her hole all day in her cushy public service job, posting on boards and facebook, no wonder she could double job


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    #7
    enviro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,300 ✭✭✭enviro


    No, 29k a year is not poverty... her outgoings have reduced her disposable income to a level she isn't happy with... big difference.


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    #8
    Tiddlypeeps
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,103 ✭✭✭Tiddlypeeps


    LivelineDipso wrote: »
    as opposed to a ex-private sector job...




    Considering how lucky they are, Public Sector Workers in this country make me want to vomit sometimes.

    The only reason I mentioned the public service bit is because it answer questions about job security so she isn't likely to be in a place where she is saving like mad because she fears unemployment. Otherwise I think it's irrelevant.

    Not looking to start a public service bashing.


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    #9
    Mint Sauce
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,293 ✭✭✭✭Mint Sauce


    So to confirm, a third of her monthly rent goes on her mortgage. She must be spending an obscene amount on everything else if she is in poverty.


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    #10
    Lando Griffin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,952 ✭✭✭Lando Griffin


    Some pay more in rent than her mortgage and others get that paid for by the gubberment too.


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    #11
    Pilotdude5
    Closed Accounts Posts: 619 ✭✭✭Pilotdude5


    My parents are constantly complaining about having no money these days. Its their own fault for moving house in 2004 with a new mortgage. After my dads done complaining he heads to the golf course. Gets a good 5 rounds a week in these days. No sympathy for them.

    If you're struggling on 29k a year you can always sell the Steinway in your piano room.


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    #12
    Celly Smunt
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,463 ✭✭✭Celly Smunt


    The poverty line is,if an unexpected or necessary expense comes and you can't afford it.By that i mean an expense such as new shoes for the kids or an increase in heating/food prices.

    not being unable to pay for the broadband or sky.


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    #13
    Gileadi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,128 ✭✭✭Gileadi


    Giving out that her tax was doubled! She showed pay slips that her tax went from 20 to 40 quid...


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    #14
    sparkydee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 193 ✭✭sparkydee


    irish-stew wrote: »
    So to confirm, a third of her monthly rent goes on her mortgage. She must be spending an obscene amount on everything else if she is in poverty.
    Hardly if you add up all the other bills such as gas, esb, petrol etc. It does all add up fairly quickly. I don't see why she would need a second job though it is manageable .


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    #15
    LivelineDipso
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 510 ✭✭✭LivelineDipso


    Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

    Not looking to start a public service bashing.





    She has the mentality of typical Partnership type.


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    #16
    mikemac1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,395 ✭✭✭✭mikemac1


    Keeping a car on the road would cripple you these days :(


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    #17
    minidazzler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,650 ✭✭✭✭minidazzler


    bootybouncer wrote: »
    Sitting on her hole all day in her cushy public service job, posting on boards and facebook, no wonder she could double job

    And your basis for believing this?

    When she says it's the mortgage crippling her I'd guess it's actually her lifestyle. The Clothes she "has" to have. She has a lot more disposable income than most people.


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    #18
    Spiritual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 491 ✭✭Spiritual


    I'd love a 29k a year job.

    What would I have to do for it?

    :pac:


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    #19
    Lando Griffin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,952 ✭✭✭Lando Griffin


    sparkydee wrote: »
    Hardly if you add up all the other bills such as gas, esb, petrol etc. It does all add up fairly quickly. I don't see why she would need a second job though it is manageable .
    She does have 4 clocks on her wall.
    Each one the same.
    Telling the same time.


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    #20
    kaimera
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,392 ✭✭✭✭kaimera


    a mortgage for 650pm on 29k?

    where? sign me up please.

    T&Cs apply.


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    #21
    Celly Smunt
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,463 ✭✭✭Celly Smunt


    Gileadi wrote: »
    Giving out that her tax was doubled! She showed pay slips that her tax went from 20 to 40 quid...

    I get tired of this argument as well,tax has not been increased by 50% of the old levels.The cost of living has come down in general also,so it in fact evens out to a certain degree.What you get charged on tax you receive at least a third back on reductions across the board in terms of food bills etc.


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    #22
    Rigol
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 465 ✭✭Rigol


    Maybe she should stretch her mortgage out by a few years. Im sure the bank will be accommodating, and her only reason to whige will be that she won't be an owner for a little while longer.


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    #23
    Lumbo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,113 ✭✭✭Lumbo


    I watched this program. Did she ever use the word poverty? I'm pretty sure she didn't and she just said that despite working two jobs, she was finding it difficult to pay her bills.


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    #24
    newbie2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,477 ✭✭✭newbie2


    650 quid per month mortgage? I'm not sure that's correct - is it?

    Edit~:
    That's 7.8 k per year. Actually a mortgage of 195000 over 25 years would do it.


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    #25
    Celly Smunt
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,463 ✭✭✭Celly Smunt


    Lumbo wrote: »
    I watched this program. Did she ever use the word poverty? I'm pretty sure she didn't and she just said that despite working two jobs, she was finding it difficult to pay her bills.

    I'd like to see what her bills were.I imagine they'd be broken down as UPC,Sky,art club for the little one,gym membership,littlewoods etc etc etc


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    #26
    RADIUS
    Closed Accounts Posts: 353 ✭✭RADIUS


    This woman needs to spend a year in Ukraine working 40 hours for 40 euro a week.
    She will never ever complain about Ireland again.


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    #27
    Spiritual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 491 ✭✭Spiritual


    Her take home is €1800 a month, her mortgage is just over a third of that.
    If my maths are right the answer should be..................she can fúck right off with her poverty talk.


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    #28
    anhedonia
    Closed Accounts Posts: 391 ✭✭anhedonia


    surely broadband is an essential basic requirement these days, along with food and heating.

    I couldnt live without it.


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    #29
    Celly Smunt
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9,463 ✭✭✭Celly Smunt


    anhedonia wrote: »
    surely broadband is an essential basic requirement these days, along with food and heating.

    I couldnt live without it.

    join a library.


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    #30
    Spiritual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 491 ✭✭Spiritual


    pmcmahon wrote: »
    join a library.

    They won't let you **** in the library.


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    #31
    enviro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,300 ✭✭✭enviro


    Relative poverty is set at 60% of the median household income. She may be close to that... anyone care to work it out?


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